FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2025
Contact: Neil Bhaerman, nbhaerman@oft-aft.org
Pickerington Public Library Workers Ratify First Union Contract
PICKERINGTON, OH — Librarians and other workers at Pickerington Public Library (PPL) voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first union contract. Members of the union, Pickerington Public Library United Staff (PPLUS), voted electronically throughout the last week. The PPL Board of Trustees voted to ratify the agreement during their Board meeting on Monday evening. The contract includes annual raises, longevity pay, additional paid leave, protection against unfair discipline, and a collaborative Labor-Management Committee.
“The staff at the Pickerington Public Library are passionate about providing resources and services to our community. That’s why we wanted to work with library administration to make the Pickerington Public Library a place where staff would want to spend their entire careers,” said Grace Walker, a PPL Youth Services Librarian. “We were able to work positively with library administration to draft a contract that will keep staff at the library long term. We now have access to paid parental/spouse leave, a longevity incentive, and a fair system for handling discipline.”
Under the new longevity pay policy, which provides an increase of $0.15 per year of service, Walker – a ten year employee – will receive a $1.50 per hour increase. In addition to the longevity pay, employees will receive raises of up to 10.5% throughout the three year contract. The contract also gives employees access to up to three weeks of paid leave that can be used for parental leave or other qualifying family medical reasons. These new policies were added in the union contract without any corresponding concessions from employees.
"Library professionals organize unions because they know that their libraries are best able to serve their community when workers have a voice,” said Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper. “This contract ensures that Pickerington Public Library workers can have input on policies that affect their library and are compensated fairly for their years of experience and expertise.”
The contract includes important protections that non-union employees typically lack, including “just cause” protection against unfair discipline, a binding grievance and arbitration policy to resolve disputes, a fair process for handling furloughs or layoffs, and a collaborative Labor-Management Committee that gives workers a voice in library policy.
PPLUS is part of a regional wave of library worker organizing that began in 2021 with Worthington Public Libraries United. In addition to Worthington, library workers have also formed unions in Grandview Heights, Upper Arlington, Athens County, and Delaware County. PPLUS is the third of these unions to ratify their first contract. Negotiations are ongoing for the remaining libraries.
“I love my job, and enjoy working with our amazing staff and with the many wonderful families in our community. I am excited to see the impact of our new contract as it implements paid parental/spouse leave, longevity pay, and an improved system for employee evaluations,” said Beth Marshall, a Youth Services Library Assistant. “As working conditions improve, we will keep more talented employees and bring stability and positive momentum to the library so we can continue to serve our community with quality programs and services that inspire a love of reading and learning.”
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